Art installation

Reception Room Roundels

These two contemporary stained glass roundels celebrate the 2020-23 restoration of the Town Hall.

Glass artist Louise Watson worked in collaboration with the artists, Beggars Belief, to draw inspiration from a series of community workshops delivered to the Lamet Habayeb group, Caldershaw Primary School and St. Peter's R.C. Primary School, Rochdale.

Making of the artwork

Some workshops included drawing leaves, flowers, fruit, and vegetables which linked to the nature and decorative art motifs in the Town Hall.

Participants were encouraged to think about compositions that filled the circles and to use black lines to separate the shapes and colours.

The children involved produced superb, bright, bold coloured drawings which have informed the design of the contemporary stained glass roundels.

Temporary

This installation was created by May Wild Studio and Burnside Community Centre. The inspiration for the repeated ceramic form came from a participant who cupped a piece of clay in her hand and created a delicate flower form. Her message - ‘Temporary’ - is a reflection on our natural world and how we need to preserve it for the future.

May Wild Studio worked with participants from Burnside Community Centre through a series of creative workshops.

Making of the artwork

The creative workshops explored themes connected to the room's decorative interiors and the idea of the Rochdale Town Hall as 'reborn', relating to hopes and vision for Rochdale’s future.

The participants used clay creations, words and storytelling to express they ideas, providing inspiration for May Wild Studio to develop the sculptural artwork.